Massachusetts firefighter charged with theft

A Lexington firefighter was in court this week on theft charges after he allegedly was seen on camera stealing money from a co-worker’s locker.

Ian B. Murphy

A Lexington firefighter was in court this week on theft charges after he allegedly was seen on camera stealing money from a co-worker’s locker.

Stephen M. Schick, 41, of Norwood, Mass., has been charged with four counts of larceny and four counts of breaking into a depository, and was arraigned in Concord District Court Monday, where he pleaded not guilty. He will reappear in court Sept. 10.

Schick was put on administrative leave in May and resigned three days later. He worked for the Lexington Fire Department for 10 years.

“[The theft] was brought to a supervisor’s attention, who brought it to the chief’s attention, who brought it to my attention,” said Lexington Town Manager Carl Valente. “Because it involved theft, and we didn’t know what was going on and who was involved, we brought it to the police department.”

Police estimate between $500 and $600 was stolen over the course of two months. Schick was not arrested, but summoned to court.

Schick declined comment Friday.

After Schick’s coworker told supervisors that cash had been repeatedly taken from a locker in the fire station, police began an investigation that culminated on May 17 when Schick was caught by video surveillance opening the victim’s locker and removing the wallet inside, according to court documents. Those same documents also indicate that Schick confessed to the police to at least four thefts.

“These thefts have been going on over a period of time,” said Lt. Joseph O’Leary. “We believe that the evidence we have is solid.”

Court documents also revealed the police department’s investigation involved supplying the victim with a motion-sensitive camera, which was hidden inside the locker. That video allegedly shows Schick opening the locker and removing a wallet, then replacing it a few seconds later. The police department put money in the wallet that morning, and $80 was missing after the video was taken, according to the documents.

“These crimes are troubling and disappointing but are not representative of the hard-working and dedicated men and women of the Lexington Fire Department,” said Fire Chief William Middlemiss in a statement.